The Avalon Chronicles

Game Master lynora

Velvarmisan sends his report to his contact with the gestalt mind.

"After a fashion. Actually Ephebe is babysitting her cousins right now. Getting some practice in for how to take care of children," she said, smiling. "Although Vai is helping out in the lab today. I'm just glad they're both back and safe and I really hope that there won't be any more incidents like that well...ever actually."

Fei quietly finishes his charging duties as he is filled on on the other events of the morning involving Vai and the other Sunwakes. After echoing his sabumnim's sentiments about everyone being back and safe, he then politely excuses himself so as not to be late to his remaining classes.

Since there is a push to wrap up the day, I guess I will just leave it at that...

Hoping he made a good impression on Nanami, Michael bids Kitty goodnight after dinner and heads to the alchemy lab to start selecting what he would need to create Anthony's familiar.

Totally forgot I was supposed to make an announcement during dinner. My bad.

About halfway through dinner, Headmaster Ryo enters the cafeteria and calls for everyone attention.

"Good evening students! This will just take a moment, so please pay attention. Later on this week Avalon will be having a talent show! Participation is optional and the entry qualifications will be the same as a Hunt or a concert. I can't wait to see what any and all of you bring to the stage!"

As soon he leaves, the cafeteria erupts in as people start talking about the talent show.

I remembered a small piece of business that I forgot to put into gameplay...

Ephebe yawned. In spite of having taken a nap with her little cousins that afternoon, playing with them again afterwards had tired her out again. But she found something waiting for her in her room that left her more exasperated than tired. Sitting on her desk was an amethyst paperweight in the shape of a lightning bolt holding down a note...

"That brat!" she said, reading the note. "Dad's out looking for him to keep him from getting caught by the empire's security forces and he's pulling stunts like this!" She used telepathy to quickly contact the rest of the family.

::Hey, guys....Taron left me a note. In my room. Today. Congratulating me on the impending little ones, all four of them. And on the decision to reveal ourselves. So he's got some way to spy on us, even in the lab...anyone seen Ammy lately?::

The rest of the week passed with surprising quiet. Well, there were a couple of incidents with lycans who weren't acclimating well to forced participation in school activities. But those were quickly dealt with. What surprised even them was how many of them found themselves enjoying themselves, not that they'd ever admit that out loud.

Posters were placed throughout the school and a sign-up sheet placed outside the Headmaster's office for the coming talent show. And another sign up sheet went up as well, this one for those who wished to run for student council, the deadline to sign up as a candidate would be in two weeks time. So far that sheet was still pretty empty, although there were lots of entries for the talent show.

Fieri scanned the cafeteria for Ephebe and Vai. Well, Ephebe was easy to find. Just look for the rapidly disappearing mountain of food.

"Alright you two. I have something I'd like you to do tomorrow if you wouldn't mind. Since things between the town and the school have calmed down since factory construction started, I wanted to go shopping. And I was hoping that my sisters would come with me? Oh, come on, please say yes. It'll be fun! A girls' day out, just us. PLeeeeeease."

"Mmmmph-mmMmmph obbpph."

"I'll take that as a yes. Honestly, Pheebs, just use telepathy when you have your mouth full."

"What about you, Vai? Say you'll come too. Pleeeeeease."

So about a week has gone by? Good... I use ellipsis way too much, don't I? :)

"Hey, Kitty, are you going to sign up for the talent show and/or the student council? It's worth it now that people can remember you." Michael seems rather happy today as he sits down next to Kitty and Saffire with his tray of food. He even tosses a small bit of fish to Saffire before the little drake and even start eying it.

"Well, I thought about it and I decided to sign up for the talent show. I'm going to do a cooking demonstration. I've been practicing the fire trick in class and I'm pretty sure I can manage it without setting the stage on fire." ^.^

"I'm still thinking about the student council thing. "

"What about you? You going to demonstrate a talent? Or run for student council?"

"And I like the look of that smile. Something's been going well. Does this mean that you're making progress with Anthony-kun's familiar?"

"I don't know about either the council or the show. Except making you laugh at my horrible jokes or jumping through trees like a monkey, I don't have any hidden talents. As for student council, I'd rather not. Being the center of attention at this school hasn't been a good thing."

"Define 'progress'." He says as he shifts in his seat.

"Ummm.....nearing completion? Complete? Trained not to bite off the hand of anyone it meets? Further along in that process than you were yesterday?"

"Um. Okay, I'll go Fieri. I don't have any money to spend though." Vai's appetite wasn't much match for Ephebe's, but still more than a girl her size should be able to eat.

"Well, it's more like OW!" Micheal flinches in his seat and finally takes a tiny gray and white kitten from his shirt. "I'm less happy now. I am not a scratching post, you got that?"

It just looks at him with it's cute little face like it has no idea what he's talking about.

"Anyway, I finished her last night. She's just as unpredictable as Saffire is though. I just used normal cat DNA and Anthony's so the connection might be more solid, as she can still do more than I expected."

"Um. Okay, I'll go Fieri. I don't have any money to spend though." Vai's appetite wasn't much match for Ephebe's, but still more than a girl her size should be able to eat.

Fieri looked puzzled. "Did Mom forget to give you your allowance? She does sometimes, you know. Well, I'll ask, but anyways, this time it can be my treat."

"Well, it's more like OW!" Micheal flinches in his seat and finally takes a tiny gray and white kitten from his shirt. "I'm less happy now. I am not a scratching post, you got that?"

It just looks at him with it's cute little face like it has no idea what he's talking about.

"Anyway, I finished her last night. She's just as unpredictable as Saffire is though. I just used normal cat DNA and Anthony's so the connection might be more solid, as she can still do more than I expected."

"Aaaaaaaaawwwwww."

The kitten wriggles from Michael's grasp and hops on to the table, where it promptly investigates Michael's tray for food.

"I still need to work on getting the coloration right." Michael says as he nudges a piece of fish closer to the kitten in order to save his dinner. "I think he'll like her though."

Kitty couldn't help but laugh. "She even sounds like him. I think they'll get on quite well. According to her it's all your fault you got scratched."

"Yes, I'm sure my soft stomach flesh was teasing her mercilessly." Michael replies dryly.

Saffire moves closer to investigate this strange creature his Creator made. It didn't look like it had scales, and it was eating his fish. He pounced, meeping his battle cry.

Spinning around, the kitten looks at the pouncing drake and puffs up her fur, letting off a bright light that temporarily blinds Saffire and sends him skidding across the table.

"I did mention she does more that I expected, right?" Michael says as he rubs his eyes.

Kitty giggled and scooped up Saffire, soothing his ruffled scales as she fed him some fish off of her plate.

"Now, Saffire, there's plenty of fish for both of you. You're just going to have to learn to share."

"So are you planning to deliver Anthony-kun's familiar to him soon? I'm not sure what color scheme you were going for, but I think she's happy with this one. I could ask if you like...."

"I am not going to be changing the color of her fur. Can't experiment on the familiars, remember? I think I'll deliver her in a little bit. It won't take nearly as long as staying at home, so I shouldn't need permission as long as I can avoid Relcav."

"Well, it is a weekend, so even Professor Relkav shouldn't be able to stop you from going home for a few hours if you want to. Tell everyone I said hello. I hope Anthony-kun likes his new familiar, although I can't see why he wouldn't. She's so utterly adorable."

"Yes, Saffire, I still think you're adorable too. We've been over this. I can admire other creatures without thinking any less of you," she reassured her familiar who was starting to whine a little at someone else getting her attention.

"You're not upset cause you couldn't pounce, are you?" Michael asks the little drake, scratching behind his ears. "I'll be sure to tell Mom you can probably keep from setting the kitchen on fire too. She'll love seeing that next time you visit."

Kitty smiled. "I have to admit that's part of the reason why I worked so hard to learn it. Your mom is very good at encouragement."

"Although, come to think of it, I should probably get some more practice in. I definitely don't stand a chance in the talent show if I set the auditorium on fire." :P

"She does have a gift for it. Certainly explains why I don't like half the photos they have of me as a kid."

"You know, in this school, you just might when if you set the stage on fire. Especially if you go first. Who could top cooking so good that the stage became a grill?" ;)

Kitty laughed. "And I'm sure I could pass off my screams of panic as a new form of opera. Saffire would help."

"On the other hand, I'm pretty sure that way leads much detention....so I think I'll stick to not setting the stage on fire."

"That's too bad, I'm sure the performance would have been smoking hot."

Oneiro sits down at a table in the corner of the cafeteria and starts eating as he pours over an old book he'd sent for. It hadn't yielded anything he was looking for yet and he was being carefully pessimistic about it. Optimism could lead to much more disappointment.

What would Jim have produced during the week, then? Just so I've got a tally. Jim will describe what he could feasibly make, under his knowledge.

Homunculus List:
Dedicated Wright: Crafter Homunculus
Expeditious Messenger: I wonder what they do?
Furtive Filcher: Stealthy, and have sneak attack
Iron Defender: Guard Dog
Arbalester: Animated Crossbow/ other weapon at discretion
Packmate: We've been over this
Persistent Harrier: Rather useless
Regular homunculus: See Persistent harrier.

Jim could also make regular Golems, given more time, and I suppose he could, with your permission of course, set the [/creator] tag to another person. Jim has the CL to make any up to Iron Golem.

Well, Aananda is trying to make a 'danger room' for the advanced PE class, both for those times when she isn't there, and to provide more varied scenarios. So golems would definitely be appreciated for that project. As would animated weaponry.

No problem. She can have whatever you feel is feasible to have made in the time allotted, in any configuration she wants. They can also become a bit of School Defense, not that students and teachers aren't a considerable force to begin with. The Arbalesters are only 1 HD, and they don't have very high to-hits. I can't recall at the moment, but anything remotely challenging, and it's either dead or useless. He'll also work, whenever asked, on the big defense project Aananda and Jimmy were working on, unless that's been postponed.

Nope, not postponed. It's just an early warning system. They want to get this up before they start working on proper planetary defenses, most of which would be manufactured off-world. However, the warning system is mostly tedious work to get all the pieces up and running before they send it up to the Harbinger for deployment throughout the system. So lots of work hours spent on it, but I figure between the three of them that are actively working on it, they could get through it in about two to three days. And now Aananda is splitting her time between designing planetary defense systems and creating the danger room. Jiminy is designing gundams basically...eventually he plans to have a factory building them. So basically he wants to be Tony Stark when he grows up. ;P

I see. Well, if Jiminy sees any product designs he likes while Jim is working, he's free to ask about them, or use them, or whatever. Also, what do you think a reasonable rate of expansion would be for my dedicated wrights to make concerning my portable hole? Jim is turning much more into a utility character than combat, as I had originally figured he would be.

Also, Jim will, if he is aware of the plan for a factory at any time, offer the use of dedicated wrights, possibly tied to the building itself, with a central processor taking control of commands to be input, for the creation of his Gundams.

I see what you were talking about with the "Jim, Jiminy" confusion. I should start going by Jimmy. :P

I see what you were talking about with the "Jim, Jiminy" confusion. I should start going by Jimmy. :P

It gets worse. Ephebe had trouble with pronouncing 'Jiminy' when she was little, so she always calls him Jimmy. Although his proper name is James....this confusion is just never going away. :)

Because he's trying to build up industry slowly since there hadn't been any left on Agartha for over a century, jiminy is going forward with his plans slowly. But he would definitely be open to suggestions for the plans. :)

Vai looks hesitant. "I wouldn't want to impose..." she seems pretty distracted, glancing nervously at the girl with horns sitting across the cafeteria, playing with a cat and some sort of dragon-like lizard. "Do either of you know that girl?" Vai says as she absently offers Nimceleb a piece of bacon. The construct looks at it quizzically, and nibbles it. His eyes light up and he swallows the whole thing in one gulp.

"Sort of. I think her name is Kitty. Um...that puppet of you had a nasty argument with her right before...umm...well anyways, I don't know if she even knows that that wasn't really you. Honestly. i don't know her very well. She's in the advanced PE class I used to be in before Mom informed me that I wasn't anymore. She's being kinda overprotective."

"At least that explains the dirty look she gave me when I came in. Maybe I should go talk to her... but I can't imagine how I would explain it in a way that didn't seem silly." As Vai talks, Nimceleb is reaching for another piece of bacon, but doesn't want to leave his perch on her shoulder.

Jen is hugely excited for the talent show. Against the advice of the watching aspect, she decided to sign up, using a paw-print that now seemed to pass as her signature, and basically every form of written communication that she produced.

She just hoped that the stage was fire-proof.

"At least that explains the dirty look she gave me when I came in. Maybe I should go talk to her... but I can't imagine how I would explain it in a way that didn't seem silly." As Vai talks, Nimceleb is reaching for another piece of bacon, but doesn't want to leave his perch on her shoulder.

"I can come with and help explain if you want. The fake Vai kinda hit on her boyfriend I think. At least if I interpreted the yelling correctly. But you didn't do that. And if she doesn't understand that after it's all been explained, then too bad for her."

Jen is hugely excited for the talent show. Against the advice of the watching aspect, she decided to sign up, using a paw-print that now seemed to pass as her signature, and basically every form of written communication that she produced.

She just hoped that the stage was fire-proof.

You know, I think it has to be. I hope. They wouldn't not fireproof it right? With so many students whose talents involve fire?

Vai slowly gets up, which illicits a small yelp from Nimceleb who had almost reached the piece of bacon. "Thank you Ephebe, but I think I need to try on my own. If she won't even listen to me, maybe you can help then." Can't stand the thought of someone hating me for something he did. As Vai made her way across the cafeteria though, the defiance and certainty she had felt slowly melted away, replaced by nervous tension. She didn't like it when someone was angry with her.

"E-excuse me... Kitty... Can I talk to you for a minute?" Vai said, nervously not making eye contact. Her hair is pulled forward, but only a small part of her face is covered. The silver construct on her shoulder was looking inquisitively at Saffire.

Kitty looked at the blonde girl suspiciously. What was her name? Viola? Or maybe just Vi? Whatever she was called, she hadn't exactly been a ray of sunshine the last time they talked. But her attitude at least seemed different this time. Well, she could always make a scene again if necessary.

"Okay. But just for a minute," she said warily.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (7) + 23 = 30

Phaezeriel flies into the cafeteria, hovers for a moment, then heads for the table that is buried under food.

Heya Ephebe. How is dinner?

"Um. This is going to sound a bit stupid." Vai fidgets, her nervousness apparent to Kitty, but Kitty can sense the sincerity behind what Vai is saying. "I'm told I got into an arguement with you this past week... the thing is... that wasn't me. It's a really long story, and I know you probably don't believe me... I just don't want you to hate me." Vai looks a little ashamed, still refusing to make eye contact, and the little silver dragon nuzzles her cheek worriedly.

Phaezeriel flies into the cafeteria, hovers for a moment, then heads for the table that is buried under food.

Heya Ephebe. How is dinner?

"Mmmmmmph MmMmmm."

::Hey, Phaeze. Dinner is good. Although, is it just me or did the portions get smaller?::

"Um. This is going to sound a bit stupid." Vai fidgets, her nervousness apparent to Kitty, but Kitty can sense the sincerity behind what Vai is saying. "I'm told I got into an arguement with you this past week... the thing is... that wasn't me. It's a really long story, and I know you probably don't believe me... I just don't want you to hate me." Vai looks a little ashamed, still refusing to make eye contact, and the little silver dragon nuzzles her cheek worriedly.

"Errr...okay. If it wasn't you, who was it?" she asked suspiciously. The body language was totally different, but she couldn't be sure.

Nope. You are just hungrier. Makes sense though, wouldn't you say?

Nope. You are just hungrier. Makes sense though, wouldn't you say?

::Yeah. Eating for five and all of us have dragon sized appetites...I'm starting to get those looks again. People got used to the infamous Sunwake appetite after a while, but right now I never seem to not be hungry.::